Petra
Petra - Jordan

It is a challenging time for cultural heritage in parts of the Middle East and North Africa that have seen large-scale devastation, including the desecration and destruction of temples, shrines, cities and monuments.

Now more than ever, ICCROM’s work on cultural heritage protection and preservation in conflict areas is needed. Since it opened its doors in 2012, ICCROM’s Regional Centre in Sharjah (ICCROM-ATHAR Centre), United Arab Emirates, has proven vital to fulfilling the organization’s mandate in the Arab Region by being closer to stakeholders and by leveraging regional collaboration mechanisms and community engagement in a region of many risks but also considerable opportunities. The centre in the UAE has become an important force for cultural heritage advocacy, providing substantive logistical and operational support to ICCROM’s work in the region.

In partnership with Arab Member States, ICCROM-ATHAR aspires to protect the cultural heritage of the Arab region and to broaden access, appreciation and understanding of its history. The Centre focuses on architectural and archaeological tangible heritage, including heritage collections and historic places, sites and monuments. It primarily aims to enhance the capacity of official heritage institutions to manage heritage sites and museum collections on a sustainable basis. It does this through an array of regional educational and field activities, capacity building and training, consultation, information dissemination, symposia, workshops and seminars.

ICCROM-ATHAR’s mission is generously supported by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, as well as Member States and other partners.

Featured

Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al Malki Al Jehani

Visit: Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Italy and Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations’ Agencies in Rome

On 21st of November the Director-General received the visit of H.E. Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al Malki Al Jehani, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Italy and Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the UN Agencies in Rome.

Developing capacity and resilience: First Aid training to begin at ICCROM

Developing capacity and resilience: First Aid training to begin at ICCROM

A fire, a flood, a storm surge. A hail of bullets, or an exploding projectile. Collateral and deliberate damage. All these pose an immediate threat to people and heritage, whether monumental building, tangible cultural object or intangible cultural custom. In an emergency, both life and way of life require fast-responding expertise. From Monday 11 November to Friday 06 December 2019, international...

Twelve new members have been elected to serve in the ICCROM Council during the period of 2019-2023. We extend our congratulations to all the elected members and look forward to working closely with our newly formed Council.

Congratulations to the newly elected ICCROM Council members

Twelve new members have been elected to serve in the ICCROM Council during the period of 2019-2023. We extend our congratulations to all the elected members and look forward to working closely with our newly formed Council.

The United Arab Emirates has been awarded a permanent membership with observer status on the Council of ICCROM

The United Arab Emirates has been awarded a permanent membership with observer status on the Council of ICCROM

The unanimous decision was made by ICCROM’s Council 93rd session in Rome, in recognition of the UAE’s support and contributions to the organisation, including hosting the only regional ICCROM Centre for the Arab region in Sharjah, UAE.

ICCROM’s Programme of Activities and Budget (PAB) for the 2020-2021 biennium has been approved by the 31st General Assembly. For the next two years ICCROM will be operating in adherence to the Strategic Directions set out by ICCROM Council in 2017. There have been conscious importance placed on effective planning and setting priorities to ensure the highest efficiency and impact of its work

New Programme of Activities and Budget for ICCROM approved

ICCROM’s Programme of Activities and Budget (PAB) for the 2020-2021 biennium has been approved by the 31st General Assembly. For the next two years ICCROM will be operating in adherence to the Strategic Directions set out by ICCROM Council in 2017. There have been conscious importance placed on effective planning and setting priorities to ensure the highest efficiency and impact of its work.

Active Exhibitions for Active Museums – Symposium on Sudanese Heritage

Active Exhibitions for Active Museums – Symposium on Sudanese Heritage

Under the patronage and presence of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the ICCROM-Sharjah Regional Office for the Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage organized a symposium from 23-26 September on conserving Sudanese heritage titled, “Active Exhibitions for Active Museums”.

 Joint master programme with the University of Sharjah

Joint master programme with the University of Sharjah

A new Master’s Programme in Cultural Heritage Preservation and Management will be offered at the University of Sharjah following an agreement signed between ICCROM and the University. The programme will target heritage professionals from a diversity of backgrounds in the Arab region, and will consist of two tracks: Management of Museums (movable heritage) and Management of Cultural Heritage Sites...

Workshops on Education and Museum Management, Western Sudan

Workshops on Education and Museum Management, Western Sudan

From 10 February to 21 February 2019, ICCROM-Sharjah and its project partners conducted two workshops on Education and Museum Management in Khartoum for the National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums (NCAM) in Sudan, funded by the British Council’s Cultural Protection Fund in partnership with the Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport.

Completion of training course in Byblos for the conservation of mosaics in situ

Completion of training course in Byblos for the conservation of mosaics in situ

Mosaics heritage is increasingly threatened by modern construction, looting and lack of qualified personnel to carry out much needed conservation and maintenance work. To address this need, a five-week international training course for the conservation of in-situ mosaics was held from 26 March to 26 April 2019, at the ancient site of Byblos, Lebanon. The training event, which included six DGA...

Community Museums in Western Sudan: Workshops

Community Museums in Western Sudan: Workshops

As part of the “Community Museums of Western Sudan” conservation and rehabilitation project for museums in Omdurman, El Obeid and Nyala, ICCROM has conducted a series of workshops entitled “Enhancing the Social and Cultural Role of Community Museums.” The project “Community Museums of Western Sudan” is funded by the British Council's Cultural Protection Fund, in partnership with the Department for...